Christian, Mormonism and voting

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2)

The primary reason for the writing of this article and the one published last week is to determine if the beliefs of those who confess Mormonism or the beliefs of the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) as they are also known are contradictory to Christian beliefs to such a degree that voting for a Mormon by Christians would be theologically acceptable.

For those of us who say we are Christians, the foundation of our faith is who we believe Jesus Christ is and what we believe Father God has placed in His hands. We believe that Jesus Christ is the self-existent Creator of all things (Colossians 1:15-20).

Official Mormon teachings say Jesus Christ is the first “spirit child” conceived and born to a physical sexual union between “Heavenly Father” and one of His many spiritual wives referred to as “Heavenly Mother.” And just as Heavenly Father before Him progressed to godhood, so Jesus progressed because of His obedience and devotion. According to Mormon beliefs, Jesus is not to be prayed to or worshipped as one would pray to and worship Heavenly Father.

The Mormon Church also teaches that Heavenly Father had other spirit children and we are spirit children of Father God and Mother God. The official LDS teachers’ manual, Gospel Principles, had this explanation: “We need a Savior to pray for our sins and teach us how to return to our Heavenly Father. Our Father said, ‘Whom shall I send?’ (Abraham 3:27). Two of our brothers offered to help. Our oldest brother, Jesus Christ, who was then call Jehovah, said, ‘Here am I, send me.’

“The Book of Abraham is part of the Mormon writings entitled Pearl of Great Price and the other brother who offered to go was named Lucifer, whom Mormons believe is the brother of Jesus Christ.”

The Mormon magazine Ensign, in talking about the relationship between Jesus Christ and Lucifer said, “On first hearing the doctrine that Lucifer and our Lord, Jesus Christ, are brothers may seem surprising to some – especially those unacquainted with latter – day revelations. But both the Scriptures and the prophets affirm that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are indeed offspring of our heavenly Father and therefore, spirit brothers.”

It is obvious the Jesus of the Mormons is not the Jesus of the Christian Church. How important is that distinction and is it to play a decisive role in deciding how Christians should vote? The answers are one, it is every-thing and two, Yes with a capital y.

If we as Christians believe what we say we believe, how can we politically support someone whose theological and religious beliefs denigrate the very God we worship? If we would be true to our God then we cannot do so.

The Bible reminds us of our obligation as Christians, Jude 3 reads, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Christian, mormonism

That faith consists of that Gospel preached by Christ and the apostles. Not anything or anybody else. There is no compromise, no weakening, and no distortion of that truth. No matter what is at stake.

Finally, as Christians we believe we will stand before the Father at the Judgment, wrapped in the Righteousness of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-22), Mormons believe we will appear dressed in fig aprons holding our “good works” in our hands. Further, they believe there are three heavens but only those who are deemed worthy of the Third Heaven, those who have been sealed in Mormon Temple rituals, will become gods of their own planet.